Guest post by Thomas Fuller
Well, with the calming passage of 24 hours, let’s take another look at the 10:10 video showing the splatterfest of gore as skeptics play the more volatile roles from the worst portions of the movie ‘Scanners.’
It’s still disgusting.
I spent four years in the Navy and have seen a lot. The film did not upset me physically or emotionally. My reaction was mental (Cue Michael Tobis: “See? Fuller’s going mental…”)
What disgusts me first is its target. The video is meant for the young. Young people get blown up by a calm and engaged teacher in the first scene, and music and sports and film figures appealing to the young are both victims and perpetrators throughout.
Our reaction is irrelevant. They are not talking to us. They are talking to our children.
What are they saying? That it’s okay to ostracize, bully and dismiss those who don’t agree that climate change is uber alles (Oops! Godwin alert, Godwin alert) and that skeptics or the children of skeptics are fair game for… whatever.
As there is no real attempt at humour in the video, there’s no point in pretending it’s a parody. It’s instructional. It’s not even aimed at helping children work towards reducing emissions. It’s about helping children take aim at those who do not.
This is worse than Orwellian, although Eric Blair would certainly understand the meaning behind this message. And I don’t want to (and internet traditions would forbid me in any case) link this to the propaganda tactics of World War II. So somewhere in between those two, there is a special place in hell reserved for those whose intent it is to legitimize the cruelty of children towards each other based on what has evidently become a religious belief. And I hope that none of the film’s makers reaches that special place ahead of their allotted timespan–but I hope they get there.
Joe Romm and Bill McKibben have already announced they are ‘Shocked! Shocked!’ that gambling is going on in their casino and that their perpetual campaign of invective and calumny has produced people who actually believe them and hate skeptics. So I guess it’s no harm, no foul. Just as it was not their fault when a disturbed environmentalist took hostages at the Discover Channel headquarters, just as when the WWF made an ad showing planes flying into New York skyscrapers, just as when a Greenpeace blogger told skeptics the world over that ‘we know where you live.’ And as Anthony Watts knows full well, they also know where you work. But none of this is the fault of those who whip up the frenzy and the furor of those stupid enough to believe their hyperbole, enough to do something vicious, cruel, stupid or illegal.
So I guess I can’t blame hysterics like Romm and McKibben, who spend their days babbling about hell and high water and related mystical miseries, for any of the troubles we’ve seen. Except for the kids who will be downloading that video tonight. Both William Golding (Lord of the Flies) and J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan) knew full well that children need no help in being cruel. But this gives them license and legitimacy. And for that, Joe and Bill, I do hold you responsible. You sent the message first–it took years for 10:10 to make it explicit.
Thomas Fuller http://www.redbubble.com/people/hfuller
Thomas Fuller href=”http://www.redbubble.com/people/hfuller
RR Kampen says:
October 2, 2010 at 5:39 am
[snip. You’ve been around here long enough to know that calling people “denialists” is not appropriate. Stop it. ~dbs, mod.]
=================
Well, I don’t get so upset about that word. After all, we do deny (not just doubt) many things the alarmists take for granted, and there is an excellent book by Lawrence Solomon, titled The Denialists, that reviews some of the scientific literature against CAGW from a very friendly perspective.
I accept that humans, like any other organism, must have some kind of effect on climate. I am skeptical about claims that our effect is significant. And I adamantly deny it has ever been demonstrated that humans have a *measurable* effect on climate. Whatever effect we may have, it remains unmeasurable to date. In that sense, I am a pure denialist, not a skeptic.
Richard Lindzen has often hinted that skepticism may be too polite a word to describe the logical reaction to many of the CAGW claims. See for example:
http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/lindzen_heartland_2010.pdf
[…]
“Perhaps we should stop accepting the term, ‘skeptic.’ Skepticism implies doubts about a plausible proposition. Current global warming alarm hardly represents a plausible proposition. Twenty years of repetition and escalation of claims does not make it more plausible. Quite the contrary, the failure to improve the case over 20 years makes the case even less plausible as does the evidence from climategate and other instances of overt cheating.
In the meantime, while I avoid making forecasts for tenths of a degree change in globally averaged temperature anomaly, I am quite willing to state that unprecedented climate catastrophes are not on the horizon though in several thousand years we may return to an ice age.”
DirkH says:
October 2, 2010 at 7:35 am
“[…](About the involvement of the above mentioned companies; here is the German site of 10:10 bragging about it:
http://www.1010global.org/de
)”
I think i should better copy the text because it’ll be gone quickly:
“Genug geredet, fangen wir an. Großbritannien macht es gerade vor; 80.000 Sign-Ups von Einzelhaushalten bis hin zu Firmen wie Microsoft, 0², Sony und und und…
”
Translation: Enough talk, let’s begin. The UK leads with example: 80,000 sign ups by individual househols as well as by companies like Microsoft, O2, Sony and many more.
John Kehr says:
October 2, 2010 at 3:50 am
I finally had the chance to see this video… Well, to be honest I stopped after the 2nd button. That was more than enough.
You really need to see the end. The message there is very clear when Gillian Anderson is vaporized, and her eyeballs slide down the window — no matter who you are, you WILL believe, or die. Your life is less than nothing to us, its almost too much effort to push the button on you.
These people are clearly sick.
TGSG says:
October 2, 2010 at 12:17 am
Amazingly bizarre that through all the different steps this film took.. from conception to screenplay to shooting to final edit to the person who gave the final OK… not a one of them said “nah this is just a touch over the top”.
—————————————————-
I find that amazing too. I think it shows how totally psychologically absorbed they are by their ‘religion’, that they literally cannot imagine anybody not finding it funny. I’ve believed for a while now, that people betray themselves by the jokes they make. The warmers have really exposed themselves here, as many folks have already said.
The big picture is summed up by Gillian Anderson at the end. It’s not even enough to “talk the talk” and ally with them. If you don’t sacrifice for the common good then it’d be better that you were removed from the earth so that you’re not causing problems. Give up 10% or 100%. Your choice. No pressure.
Regardless of the intent of the producers this video turned out to be a mildly amusing black-humor satire of the Green’s totalitarian zealotry. Not as funny as the pioneer in this genera: the Green Police commercials that aired during the Superbowl here in the USA. Hoisted by one’s own petard comes to mind.
I saw this referenced on the Guardian website-
‘Doctor Bronowski Defends Science’
Very relevant.
Time to jump in again. The Pythons did not kill children in their skits. Children did not get covered in blood and gore. Now I have seen blood and gore. Including my own. from
accident, aircraft crashes,cattle and hog butchering. Children here are butchered. There are already children being butchered in real life. War, crime,terror, we are worried about a real attack in Europe and the USA by the Bad Men of the Quedist movement. This Film is worthy of Lili Riefenstahl. Who, in later life was something of a greenie herself. Though she was a better director,technically.
Thank you Mr. Fuller, and others who see this as what it is- a hate film.
What is the difference between the people that support the actions of 9/11 and the people that support the actions of 10/10?
Only 1 step to the left.
evanmjones says:
October 1, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Go and view Monty Python and the holy Grail. Look up Satire in the dictionary. Then take a course in being British (N.B. work very hard on the Irony / Sarcasm section)
Finally review the video again and posit a new opinion.
============================================================
I grew up on MP. I have as dark a sense of humour as anyone. Laughed my bleep off at “we are here for your liver – what? – well you signed the card” and when the Catholic woman dropped the kid while doing the dishes I think I bleeped myself. The Holy Grail I have watched 20 times. I see something new to laugh at everytime I watch it. The question here is context. If this “film” had appeared as a Python sketch or on SNL or on MAD TV or even South Park I probably would have cried laughing. But it wasn’t. It was put out by a Government sanctioned organization which wants to tell us how to live. Their choice of message was ‘comply or die’. That is not funny, that is scary. How is that any different than the message any number of terrorists try to send. Another issue is timing. Just a few weeks after the Discovery Channel hostage taking and that whacko’s declared Manafesto. Please don’t try to excuse by ignoring context. Context is everything in this situation as it is in most.
[That wasn’t me. I was just quoting it. ~ Evan]
The idea of simply murdering their enemies to get them out of the way comes easily to many the far left. It’s why so many left-wing revolutions end up creating large piles of bodies and why so many on the left not only turn their head at such atrocities but still idolize murderous thugs like Mao, Fidel Castro, and Che Guevara. It’s so much easier to murder your enemies that convince them to agree with your insane beliefs and plans. Maximilien “The Incorruptible” Robespierre and his Reign of Terror were not an aberration of history but the predictable results of an utopian ideology taken to its logical conclusion. We know this because the same thing happens, again and again.
jeremy of W.A, don’t excuse this with crap about non-existence British cultural superiority. If you mean that the British are further along a path of degeneracy, then you might be correct.
Unlike the fantasies of Monty Python, the victims of this film are representative of every man; some of which do not agree with the eco-fascists. Their punishment for what should be an inalienable right is elimination -it is a statement of the desires of the eco-fascists. In fact, when you take into account the views of people like Finnish environmentalist Pentti Linkola, who want climate change deniers to be “re-educated” in eco-gulags and a vast majority of humans killed, then you realise that this is only half the story.
We shouldn’t back away from calling these people Nazis just because they call us deniers. We don’t intend to enslave and kill the masses. They do. Lets call them out so that they don’t get a chance.
If this film was supposed to be satire, they did a darn good job of satirizing their own.
What I marvel at is why people who have demonstrated such appallingly bad judgment should think they’ve got it all right, and those that don’t agree with them have got it wrong. They are so wrapped up in their own sense of self-righteousness, they clearly act without doing much in the way of deep thinking. These are not the kind of people anybody should heed.
It isn’t the first time gruesome images and ideas have been used to promote the cause. It is however the worst of the lot. Perhaps this will be the end of the escalating level of overt threats made toward those of us who don’t care to join the cult of AGW.
Of course my first two MP references were from The meaning of Life just to be clear. Can’t make a context argument then screw up my references 😉 Also laughed hysterically at Life of Brian when they were on the cross singing. So my black humour rep is fully intact thank you very much mr evanmjones.
[REPLY – The italics were quotes from jeremy of W.A.. Go back and look underneath the italics and you will see my reactions to the quotes. ~ Evan]
I am simply stunned. Speechless really. It is simply despicable and vial.
Having poured out my anger about this vile video elsewhere, I am still aghast that one major point of this video has escaped attention.
That is the use of the ‘red button’ to blow children and adults up.
Leaving aside the aspects of green propaganda, ‘humour’, ‘Brits find it vaguely funny’ etc – why is it that nobody is disturbed by the obvious connection between this video and the suicide bombers in this world, who also just press a button to kill themselves and all innocent bystanders?
Have we become so desensitized to violence that we don’t even notice how the makers of this video even make fun, apparently, of suicide bombings?
I am and remain appalled and [self-snipped] angry.
Another telling point about this “film” is the number of people they represent as not going along with the consensus. To them in their self imposed bubble they think that those who do not agree with them are a very small minority. The fact that they thought they had to make this “film” I think proves otherwise.
@P Gosselin
Not a peep about the video/campaign in norwegian media either. No surprise since this country is run by these people and media subsided by these very same people.
I’ve heard said:
Curtis is not a cutting edge writer. He is old. By comparison, shows like Psychoville leave you feeling that the oddball characters are endearing.
If this film was supposed to help convince people, it failed. So what’s the point?
Copy of letter sent to:
———————————————————-
Kazuo Inamori, Founder & Chairman Emeritus
Makoto Kawamura, Chairman
Tetsuo Kuba, President
Kyocera Group
Honorable Founder Inamori, Chairman Kawamura & President Kuba
Thank you for your foundation of “Living Together” built on you ethical perspective “What is the right thing to do as a human being?” and for your effort to “build trust relationships with all stakeholders”. This affirms Jesus’ teaching: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.”
However, your company is supporting the 10:10 UK group at 1010global.org. Though claiming to act for the environment, 10:10 UK is destroying our foundational Rule of Law. By their video “No Pressure”, they promote teachers violently murdering children who do not agree with their advocacy.
Please repudiate 10:10’s teaching children to murder.
Please remove your support from 10:10 UK.
Yours sincerely
Dr. David L. Hagen
—————————————————
See Kyocera’s Top Management Message
Please express your opinion to Kyocera at CSR Activities (Society and Environment)
———————————–
Please express you opinion to Naomi Climer, chair of Sony’s sustainability leadership group, regarding Sony’s support of 10:10 UK.
Yotaro Kobayashi, Chairman of the Board
Sir. Howard Stringer, Sony Corporation Chairman, CEO
howard.stringer@jim pace.sony.com
Naomi Climer, Vice President, Sony Europe
c/o Corporate Social Responsibility Department
Sony Corporation
See Sony’s environmental commitment.
“Robert of Ottawa says:
October 2, 2010 at 7:26 am”
Easy fix. Don’t buy their merchandise!
Thinking on this and reading the recent comments, yes it does fit, they are Eco-nazis. Plain and simple and we should, as others have suggested, name them for what they are.
“mike roddy says:
Sorry for the typo. “Died” is correct. As in deaths from historic heat waves in Russia, France, and India.”
Really, really, REALLY, lame! Forget the RECORD deaths from cold in central Europe which OUTSTRIP the hot deaths. Go, please do, go check it, google it if you will. Here in Australia, we’ve had our coldest September in 16 years, but I guess this is just weather. I wonder how cold the NH winter will be this year. Well, by all accounts, it’s shaping up to be as cold or colder than last year (30-40 cold records set. Did anyone say 1970’s coming iceage?).
Monty Python was a comedy show, showing a wide range of comedy skits, purely for the purpose of amusement. This 10:10 video is part of a political campaign setting out to wilfully dehumanise their political opponents. I would suggest that this is a very large and crucial distinction.
This video is not only aimed at children, but at the sub-conscious of the moderate believer. This is aimed at desensitising them to the idea of killing non-believers.
BTW, I am British, I love Monty Python, Blackadder, not the nine o clock news, even two pints of lager and a packet of crisps.
Whatever their reasons it is sick. They have trouble dealing with adults who want proof so they attack our children and grandchildren and if they can brainwash them they have it made for the next generation.
This is not science or education its abuse by a political agenda and worse its abuse of children by attempting to sell them on a fraud and by promoting the idea that murdered and death for anyone who does not agree is OK. It is disgusting and should be prosecuted. All the wondering about their reasons does not matter when a child is being used in such a fashion. And selling it with humor does not make it acceptable.